Early access to the internet has pros and cons

AMONG THE 688 MILLION internet users in the country as of the end of last year, nearly one-fourth are under the age of 19, and those under the age of 10 exceeded 18 million, according to statistics from China Internet Network Information Center. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Saturday:

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Neighbors can manage their differences

The arbitration case initiated by the Philippines concerning the South China Sea is in essence about repudiating China's territorial rights and maritime interests in the waters, and putting a gloss on its illegal occupation of reefs and islets of China's Nansha Islands.

Travels are not romantic in the wilderness

The remarkable growth in outdoor travel in China became part of public consciousness in a dramatic way recently when more than 100 tourists camped on a "boardwalk" high up on a cliff-face of Laojun Mountain in Henan province. The camping party, which was widely covered by the media, had the luxury of being at a spot covered by WiFi, and one can imagine many of campers coming out of their tents early in the morning, taking photographs of the mist-swathed valley and uploading them instantly on social media, adding to the sensation of outdoor travel in China.

Taiwan suffers drop in mainland visitors

The drop in the number of Chinese mainland tourists to Taiwan since the island's new leader Tsai Ing-wen took office two months ago has dealt a blow to its tourism industry. And the death of 24 mainland tourists in a bus fire on July 19 is likely to deal another blow to Taiwan's tourism industry. The driver and a tour guide, both Taiwan residents, also died in the fire. Since loose management of the industry and obsolete equipment should be blamed for the tragedy, more mainland tourists are likely to abandon the idea of visiting the island.

Regional arms race is clear and presents danger

Japan's litany of accusations against China has become standard fare. Its 2016 defense white paper disclosed last week by the country's media depicts China as a "muscle-flexing" country while turning a blind eye to the massive arms build-up in the Asia-Pacific - not least by itself.

Fund return hit by commodities, strong dollar

China Investment Corporation announced on Friday that its overseas investments generated a net return of negative 2.96 percent in dollar terms in 2015, falling from a positive 5.47 percent return for 2014, due to volatilities in international financial markets and foreign exchange losses triggered by an appreciating dollar.

Regulators warn Vanke, Baoneng

China's securities and insurance regulators both urged China Vanke Co Ltd's management team and its major shareholder Baoneng Group to resolve the disagreement in an effective and immediate way.

Fosun buys UK soccer club Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolverhampton Wanderers is now officially in Chinese ownership, after the West Midlands soccer club's sale on Thursday to investment conglomerate Fosun International Ltd for 45 million pounds ($59.7 million).

Futuristic rail seeks China market

Jerry Sanders, chairman and CEO of skyTran Inc, based in Mountain View, California, was in Beijing recently looking for potential partners to bring the company's magnetic levitation track system for personal transportation to China.

$1.3b for Sheffield from Chinese investor

Sichuan Guodong Construction Co is to invest more than 1 billion pounds ($1.3 billion) over the next 60 years in Sheffield, the biggest-ever Chinese investment in the United Kingdom outside London.

Samsung pays $449m for stake in BYD

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd bought a 3 billion yuan ($449 million) stake in Chinese electric-car maker BYD Co Ltd, which is backed by US billionaire investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc.